A Study for Sherlock

In the opening scenes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s first Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet (written in Portsmouth), Holmes and Dr Watson go to view some lodgings at 221B Baker Street.

'They consisted of a couple of comfortable bedrooms and a single large airy sitting-room, cheerfully furnished and illuminated by two broad windows. So desirable in every way were the apartments, and so moderate did the terms seem when divided between us, that the bargain was concluded upon the spot, and we at once entered into possession…That done, we gradually began to settle down and to accommodate ourselves to our new surroundings.'

And settle they did. This address was to stay unchanged through all the many stories about Doyle’s extraordinary detective. And the sitting-room became Holmes’s laboratory and study, the centre of his investigations.
 
As part of the Sharing Sherlock project Portsmouth MIND group designed, built and painted their own personal version of this most famous of imaginary places, the study of Sherlock Holmes and his fellow detective, Dr Watson. To accompany their display, they selected a variety of objects on the same theme.

The Exhibition display stand and Exhibits

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson illustration

A Map of Great Britain

The original study

Creating a facsimile version

The end result

More Exhibitions to explore

• Arthur and George - Conan Doyle's Fight for Justice for George Edalji

• Conan Doyle - A Good Sport - Conan Doyle's wide ranging sporting interests

• Conan Doyle - The Pompey Lad - Conan Doyle's time in Portsmouth

• Conan Doyle on Holiday - due to his success as a writer, Conan Doyle had the opportunity to travel widely. He often took his family. This exhibition explores the places they visited.

• Dinosaurs, Fairies and Conan Doyle - Conan Doyle's interest in science, and fairies

• Gripping Yarns - story writing in the style of Sherlock Holmes

• The Lost World - Conan Doyle's science fiction novel

• Playing Sherlock - improvised plays based upon Sherlock Holmes

• Sherlock Holmes Fandom - Sherlock Holmes has fans from around the world

• Stitching a Story - stitching a quilt based upon The Adventure of the Copper Beeches

• The Cottingley Fairies - Conan Doyle's interest in fairies inspired Bunny Warren Nursery to create their own fairies

• To Catch a Thief - masks and disguises inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle’s story Charles Augustus Milverton

• You Don't Know Sherlock Holmes Yet -  a wide ranging exhibition featuring items and documents from the Collection. This exhibition covers Conan Doyle's life and works, including his arrival in Portsmouth, his books, his fights for justice and the phenomena that is Sherlock Holmes.

To see more images and find out more about The Conan Doyle Collection, please email: sherlock.holmes@portsmouthcc.gov.uk